Toy



Au g. 13, 1929. R. P. ABBOTT ET AL 1,724,447

- TOY Filed Jan. 18, 1927 Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

ll lTEl.) TTS ROSS P. ABBDTT, WILLIAM WV.

ABBOTT, PENNSYLVANIA.

AND EARLE ID. ABBOTT, OF GRAFTON,

TOY.

Application filed sanitary 18, 1927. Serial No. 161,906.

Our invention relates to toys, particularly to toys of the gravity roller type, and important objects of the invention are to pro vide a toy of the character stated, which .5 will furnish entertaining diversion and amusement for children; which may be utilized for playing a game of chance; which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and eliicient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. lVith the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views 1- Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section of a toy constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawing 1 denotes a flat, rectangular base upon which an elevator 2 and a circuitous undulating runway or track 3, are tixedly mounted. The track 3 consists of a pair of parallel disposed, spaced rails, indicated at 4 and 5. The latter are preferably constructed from metal stock, but it will be obvious that the rails may be made from any other suitable material and cross section, or that a channel shaped runway may be substituted in place of the rails to provide a path of travel. 40 The track 3 is secured in position by its attachment with the elevator 2 and by a plurality of vertical supports 6. The upper terminus 7 of the track 3 is fixed adjacent to the upper end of the elevator 2, and the lower track terminus 8, is fixed to one end of a table 9. The table 9 connects with a receptacle or chute 10, but is divided from the latter by a removable partition 11. The chute 10 is connected to and communicates with the lower end of the elevator 2 at the side thereof, as shown in Figure 2.

A hopper 12 is fixed to the upper end of the elevator 2 and is disposed directly above the upper track terminus 7. The hopper 10 is provided with a plurality of superposed battles 13, which are disposed alternately in opposite directions, and in spaced relation with respectto each other.

The track 3 is arranged to provide a gravity runway for roller members, preferably i or balls 14, shown, but it is to be understood that cars may be employed as roller members if desired. The upper track terminus 7 is provided with a suitable receiving guard 15 to assure the positioning of the balls 14 upon the track 3 when passing from the hopper 12. The turns in the track 3 are likewise provided with guards 16 to maintain the balls 14 upon the track 3 while travelling around the track turns. The hopper bailles 11 will deposit the balls 14 singly upon the track 3 and prevent jamming of the balls in the hopper 12 during the operation of the device.

The elevator 2 includes a continuous conveyer belt 17, which passes around an upper pulley 18 and a lower pulley 19. The pulleys 18 and 19 are suitably journaled for rotation in respective ends of the elevator 2, and the upper pulley 18 is provided with a crank 20 for manually operating the elevator 2 to elevate the balls 14 tothe hopper 12.

The conveyer belt 17 carries a plurality of regularly spaced conveyer plates 21, which receive the balls 14 from the chute 10 at the lower end of the elevator 2 to carry them to the top of the latter where the balls 14 are discharged or dumped into the hopper 12 by gravity through the laterally disposed openin 22 formed at-the upper end thereof.

The table 9 is provided with side walls 23 and with a plurality of shallow pockets 24. Each of the pockets 24 is inscribed with a difi'erent numerical designation 25 indicating the value or count of a ball 14 that comes to rest in respective pockets 24 after its descent over the track 3. This arrangement of the table 9 provides an interesting game of chance in which a number of persons may participate.

In utilizing the device for a game as above mentioned, the partition 11- is positioned at the end of the table 9, but if the device is merely used for amusement, the partition 11 is removed, thereby'allowing the balls 14 to pass over the table 9 into the chute 10 to be deposited into the elevator 2 for continuously repeating the ball rolling operation on the track 3 during the operation of the elevator 2.

A portion of the track 3, adjacent to its lower terminus 8, is covered by a tunnel structure 26. A gong 27 is carried by the tunnel structure 26 and each of the balls 14% on passing through the latter will operate the gong 27 to audibly signalize the operator of the approach of the ball to the lower: track terminus 8.

What we claim is:

In a toy of the character described including ball members, an undulating, circuitous, gravity runway providing a path of travel for said ball members, said runway consistmg; of a pair oit spaced parallel disposed rails and guard members carried by the 15 In testimony whereof we affix our signa- 20 tures.

ROSS P. ABBOTT. WVILLIAM W. ABBOTT. EARLE D. ABBOTT. 

